Random Excerpt From An Oasis Mallard Well In Alger Oil Field -- April 3, 2015

A portion of the geologist's report from:

• 26382, 331, Oasis, Mallard 5692 21-20 9T2, Alger, TF2, 36 stages; 4.3 million lbs, t8/14; cum 12K 1/15;

This, of course, pertains to this particular well, this particular area, but it provides newbies an idea of the various payzones in the Bakken.

The Mission Canyon Formation (Mississippian - Madison Group) was observed at 8,494' TVD (- 6,190). Representative samples consist of a light brown and gray microcrystalline limestone with trace-light brown oil stain. Some samples contained moderate traces of algal material. Increases in background gasses from 50 to 100 units and several shows above 120 units supported possible trace intercrystalline porosity, not visible in sample.

The Middle Bakken Member of the Bakken Formation (Late Devonian-Early Mississippian) was drilled at 9,845' TVD (-7,541'). Representative samples consist of a medium gray to light brown, calcareous silty sandstone with moderate intergranular porosity and a trace light brown oil stain. Samples in this interval exhibited fast, diffuse, off white cut fluorescence. Moderate hydrocarbon show and heavy gases (C1-C4) were observed throughout this interval, peaking at a show of 121 units.

The Lower Bakken Shale (LBS) of the Bakken Formation (Late Devonian – Early Mississippian) is a dark brown and black carboniferous shale deposited in an open marine environment. The Lower Bakken Shale is well known for its hydrocarbon content and is commonly thought to be a “charge zone” for the Three Forks. During drilling of the LBS, observed at 9,900’ TVD (-7,596’), gas shows peaking at 223 units and abundant black oil stain was observed in all 40’of this interval.

The Three Forks Formation (Late Devonian) has been divided into three potential productivity zones or “benches” of interest by Oasis. Each bench is divided by a “claystone” member that is lower in porosity and very silty, making them of less interest as potential pay zones. The Three Forks was deposited as a result of a second-order stratigraphic sequence regression within the Kaskaskia major sequence in a supratidal marine environment, resulting in evaporates, bio-turbated and wave-sorted clastics, and paleosols.

The First Bench of the Three Forks Formation is located just below the Pronghorn Member of the Bakken Formation. The first bench is well known for interbedded shale and dolomite, characteristically having good porosity and common hydrocarbon show in sample cuttings. Samples while drilling were observed as an off-white and rare pink dolomitic mudstone, with moderate to rare intergranular porosity, interbedded with mint green shale containing abundant disseminated pyrite and very little visible porosity. The First Bench was drilled at 9,945’ TVD (-7,641’), though no gas shows were observed due to a broken trap motor. Hydrocarbon cuts exhibited moderate white streaming cut fluorescence.

The Second Bench of the Three Forks was the primary target for the lateral portion of the Mallard 5692 21-20 #9T2 and was entered at 9,990’ TVD (-7,686’). Three distinct lithologies were observed during drilling of the lateral, with various interbedding of the first two throughout the 30’ thick section, represented in a type log for the Second Bench of the Three Forks. The first lithology was observed at the C and E markers and consisted of a very clean, sucrosic white and pinkish orange dolomite with moderate intergranular porosity. This lithology was observed several times throughout the lateral and produced moderately quick and predictable drilling rates.

The second lithology observed in the lateral corresponded to the B and D markers, with high gamma characteristics. It consisted of a dolomitic siltstone, light to medium gray in color with very silty tendencies. Very little porosity was visibly observed in this lithology with slow and weak hydrocarbon cut shows. Drilling in the B and D sections of the target zone produced fair drilling rates and little bouncing of azimuth or inclination.

The third lithology was observed in the lower portion of the target zone and in the last third of the lateral. A red-orange silty mudstone with low porosity was described as microcrystalline with a sucrosic texture. This lithology became the most commonly observed in the lateral as drilling to the east progressed.

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The Clues Are Hard To See

I track this story elsewhere, but an update --

April 3, 2015: this provides some insight into the incredible lack of psychological insight investigators have. WTOP is reporting:

The co-pilot of the doomed Germanwings flight repeatedly sped up the plane as he used the automatic pilot to descend the A320 into the Alps, the French air accident investigation agency said Friday.

The chilling new detail from the BEA agency is based on an initial reading of the plane’s “black box” data recorder, found blackened and buried at the crash site Thursday.

It strengthens investigators’ initial suspicions that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally destroyed the plane — though prosecutors are still trying to figure out why. All 150 people aboard Flight 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf were killed in the March 24 crash. 

Let's review the clues:

• history of psychiatric depression requiring 18 months of intensive therapy
• suicidal ideation
• 11 months as a flight attendant when flight training interrupted due to severe depression
• likelihood of losing his job due to eye problems (likely to have been psychosomatic)
• "fear of flying"
• sexual identity issues
• broke up with his girlfriend almost immediately before the flight
• doctor's recommendation that he not fly (had this come to attention of his employer, it should have ended his flying career)
• he said that all he ever wanted to do in life was fly for Lufthansa
• not yet flying for Lufthansa per se, but a subsidiary airline
• a loser